Charities, social action and support for the most vulnerable have always been at the heart of our Catholic mission. Much of this work began under the Holy Spirit MAC and Our Lady of Magnificat MAC and continues to grow and flourish within St Raphael Catholic Multi Academy Trust.

In March 2020, the Holy Spirit MAC began delivering food to families experiencing financial hardship. This marked the beginning of a programme of social action within and beyond our local communities that has become a defining feature of our Catholic life and mission. Through these initiatives, our faith is brought to life in practical ways, enabling pupils, staff, families and the wider community to see how Gospel values and the social teachings of the Church can be translated into meaningful action.

Some examples of this work include:

• Since March 2020, fundraising efforts have generated in excess of £180,000, alongside donations of several tonnes of food to support our foodbank provision. This enabled us to provide regular meal deliveries to families and fund a number of large scale projects, including Easter Sunday dinners for more than 500 people and the delivery of over 1,500 Christmas meals to families, together with presents for every child. More than 200 staff give up the first day of their Christmas holiday to prepare and deliver these packages, with many others volunteering significant amounts of their own time to organise and coordinate the initiative.

• Since the programme began, we have provided more than 25,000 meals, food deliveries, vouchers and other forms of support to families in need. Support has extended beyond our own communities, with requests received from across the region, including Leicester and Coventry.

• More recently, under St Raphael Catholic Multi Academy Trust, our communities demonstrated extraordinary generosity during Lent 2026, raising £40,000 in just three weeks for Father Hudson's Caritas. This remarkable achievement highlights the continued commitment of our pupils, staff, families and parishes to supporting those most in need and living out the Gospel call to serve others.

Today, our programme of charitable work and social action is not simply a collection of events and fundraising activities. It is embedded within the culture and Catholic life of our Trust. Staff, pupils and the wider community understand that our faith is active through our service to others. The pursuit of justice, the protection of human dignity and our preferential option for the poor are central to who we are as a Catholic community. We continue to operate our foodbank, respond to emerging needs and support vulnerable families both within our Trust and across the wider community.

Students, staff and families from St Joseph's and St Mary's Immaculate recently took part in the Big Sleep Out in Leamington, raising awareness and supporting the valuable work of the Leamington Night Shelter.

The event brought the community together to learn more about the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, while demonstrating solidarity with those in need. Participants embraced the experience with enthusiasm and compassion, helping to raise both funds and awareness for an important local cause.

We are incredibly proud of everyone who took part and would like to thank all those who supported the event. Their efforts reflect our commitment to living out our faith through service, compassion and care for others.

Well done to all involved in making a positive difference in our local community.

 Schools across St Raphael Catholic Multi Academy Trust were proud to take part in the Bag of Hope Appeal, an Archdiocesan initiative led by the Birmingham Diocesan Education Service (BDES) to support people experiencing hardship across our communities.

Ahead of the annual Leadership Conference, schools were invited to encourage pupils, staff and families to donate a backpack filled with essential items and a few treats that could support an individual or family for a week. Schools were able to focus their donations on particular areas of need, including homelessness, children and families, and other vulnerable groups.

Our schools responded with tremendous generosity, embracing the opportunity to put their Catholic faith into action. Staff, pupils and families worked together to collect and pack bags filled with practical items, helping to provide comfort, dignity and hope to those facing difficult circumstances.

The scale of the response from schools across the Archdiocese was truly inspiring, with more than 800 bags collected and blessed by Archbishop Bernard Longley at the Leadership Conference. The bags will now be distributed through Father Hudson's Caritas, reaching individuals and families in need throughout the Archdiocese.

The appeal reflects the core values that underpin Catholic education and the mission shared by all schools within St Raphael CMAT. Through simple acts of kindness and generosity, our school communities demonstrated their commitment to serving others and supporting those who are most vulnerable.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this wonderful initiative. Your donations will make a real difference to the lives of others and serve as a visible sign of hope, care and compassion.

As a Trust, we are incredibly proud of the way our schools continue to work together in support of charitable causes, living out the Gospel values that are at the heart of everything we do.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." (Matthew 25:35)

Thank you to all our pupils, families and staff who helped make the Bag of Hope Appeal such a success.

At Christmas, our CMAT community comes together in a powerful demonstration of compassion, solidarity and generosity through our annual Christmas Foodbank Appeal. Supported by our parish communities, local businesses, staff, pupils and families, the appeal helps provide food and essential items to those in need across our CMAT and parish.

The appeal is a wonderful example of Catholic social teaching in action, bringing together our schools, parishes and wider community to support those facing hardship during the Christmas season. Through donations, fundraising activities and volunteering, our community helps ensure that local families receive practical support when they need it most.

As Pope Francis reminds us:

"Never tire of working for a more just world, marked by even greater solidarity."

We are particularly proud of our pupils, who actively support the appeal in a variety of ways, from helping to organise collections and fundraising activities to volunteering their time to raise awareness within the community. Their enthusiasm, compassion and commitment to helping others demonstrate the values we strive to nurture in all our young people.

The success of the appeal is also made possible by the kindness of local people and businesses who generously donate prizes, resources and support. Their contributions help maximise the impact of the appeal and bring our whole community together in a shared effort to support those most in need.

We are grateful to everyone who contributes, whether by donating, volunteering or supporting the appeal in any way. Through these collective efforts, we are able to make a meaningful difference to the lives of families across our community and bring hope, dignity and joy during the Christmas season.

Together, we make a real difference.